Pullen laments hurting teammates

Suspended Kansas State players Jacob Pullen (left) and Curtis Kelly could only scratch their heads and watch their Wildcat teammates rout North Florida on Saturday in Manhattan. Pullen's suspension ends Monday.

MANHATTAN — Confessions came rather easily for Jacob Pullen on Friday.

He met with the media for the first time since the NCAA imposed a three-game suspension on Kansas State's senior guard for accepting impermissible benefits and apologized for the transgression. Pullen will return Monday for a game against Savannah State in Bramlage Coliseum.

The incident at a Manhattan department store involved both him and K-State's other senior, Curtis Kelly, who was issued a six-game suspension because the clothing he received was of more value. Kelly remains out until a Jan. 15 home game against Texas Tech, the Wildcats' third Big 12 game. Both Pullen and Kelly sat on the end of the bench Friday as K-State crushed North Florida, 100-76.

Pullen noted the difficulty with letting down his coaches, teammates and family.

"It's been tough," Pullen said. "I haven't sat out a game since I was in my freshman year of high school, when I didn't make the eligibility rules. After I did that, I told my mom I'll never sit out another basketball game. I've tried to do that throughout my whole career."

Ground rules were established for the group interview. No specific questions regarding the incident were permitted.

However, Pullen did touch on the night the suspension started, how word came down fewer than 2 hours before a Dec. 23 game in Kansas City, and the difficulty of watching the Wildcats lose to UNLV in the Sprint Center.

The suspension, he said, has made him a better player, and in his mind, a better person. He added that reaction to his situation has created doubts about his ability, which he is using as incentive as he prepares for his return Monday against Savannah State in Bramlage Coliseum.

"Practice has made me drive to another level," Pullen said. "I kind of feel like Michael Vick in some ways. I feel like I've got something to prove again. I feel like people doubt what I've done and feel like I shouldn't be in the places I've been in.

"I feel like now is reason for me to show them I've worked hard for everything that's come my way and everything this team has gotten. It really makes you hungry."

After completing a 100-74 rout of North Florida, junior forward Jamar Samuels reflected on Pullen's return and essentially issued a warning.

"I think he's going to come back and rip this thing apart, him and Curtis," Samuels said. "I don't know about Savannah State, though. I feel kinda sorry for them. Getting back No. 0, after talking to him (Thursday) night, thank you NCAA."

Pullen wouldn't go as far as to offer any thanks to the governing body for collegiate sports, just respect.

"The NCAA sees everything," he said, when asked about any lessons learned. "You've just got to use better judgment."

That, Pullen said, will be part of moving on.

"I cannot live in the past. I cannot live on what happened that day," he said. "We have a young team and we have to move forward. The guys in the locker room did a great job of not letting what happened affect them. The last three games, they went out and played their hearts out."

Martin rips celebration flag

Given the sport was football, Frank Martin took the opportunity to express his opinion about the controversial celebration penalty assessed against Kansas State wide receiver Adrian Hilburn in the Pinstripe Bowl.

The 15-yard foul created a difficult two-point conversion opportunity for the Wildcats, who failed to convert and fell 36-34 to Syracuse.

"I've got a tough time believing that saluting is a problem," Martin said. "I understand there's rules and I get it. ... I don't like celebrations. I think that's as selfish as it gets. I think that's a look at me.

"I'm happy that those rules are in place, but if saluting is a look-at-me play, that's as bad as it gets. And to all my friends at Fort Riley, and my guy (Hilburn) who caught the touchdown, I salute them. That's a movement of respect everywhere I've been in my life."

The K-State basketball team is partnered with the 7th Field Artillery Regiment stationed within the 1st Batallion at Fort Riley. Some soldiers in that regiment are currently deployed in Iraq.

During the win against North Florida, the Wildcats offered salutes after some plays as a tribute to Hilburn.

"Athletes are all part of a family at this school, so the football team and us are one," said forward Wally Judge. "That was just something for them to let them know we're still proud of them."

The K-State football travel party landed at Forbes Field at the same time Friday's basketball game was under way and returned to Manhattan about the time the game concluded.

K-State tip-ins

— Junior center Freddy Asprilla did not play because of an illness. He had missed all of the Wildcats' practices since they returned from a short Christmas break.

— The 100-point outing was the first for the Wildcats since defeating Xavier in the regional semifinals of the NCAA Tournament last season.

— Rich Zvosek, the color analyst on the FSN telecast, started the North Florida program. He went 54-84 over five seasons when the Ospreys played in the NAIA.

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I hope Pullens fat head has shrunk back to normal size, and start playing ball like he did the last 2 years. That also goes for the entire team to get the heads into the games, and make plays and free throws.

I agree. Pullen has been a detriment to the Team all year. Now, He will also drag unwanted negative publicity to both the Team & University from every announcer when they are on any National TV appearances. I hope he's worth it and I hope he proves me wrong, but I believe he is too ego-centric to be really good. The Cats didn't take the preseason hype well at all and Pullen is simply not the answer. He could well get embarrassed in the Big 12 games.

I know we are trying to keep from name calling on these sites but for the first time in my posting life I can't resist. YOU TWO ARE IDIOTS. You can't possibly be talking about the same Pullen we all know at K-State. Too Ego-Centric??? Fat Headed???

Hey there, no problem. I am impressed you found a dictionary/pictionary to look up the spelling of the word/term idiot". And from recent Pullen interviews, we now know that God was involved, and It was a good thing, amd now the younger players can grow hair on their chests, and that Airhead/Airball Pullen thinks he is something similar to Michael Vick. Sounds like a comic relief show from the latest Bozo album. The Cats would be much better off without this ********** who has embarrassed everyone except for his self which is no surprise.